What Financial Help State Government Can Give To Advocate Clerks? Asks Karnataka HC

The Karnataka High Court has asked the state government to consider in what manner it can help needy members of the Karnataka State Level Advocates Clerks Association who due as a result of closure of courts during the lockdown are left with no source of income.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum gave the direction after it was informed that the Government of Telangana has released certain funds to help the junior members of the Bar who are in distress and even the advocates' clerks, who are in distress.

On the last hearing the court had asked the association to implead the Advocates Association of Bengaluru and Karnataka State Bar Council. It had asked them to evolve a scheme for the benefit of the registered advocates clerks.

The court was informed by the counsel appearing for the Karnataka State Bar Council and counsel appearing for the Advocates' Association of Bengaluru, that a joint meeting was convened on May 26, to discuss the issue. However, nothing concrete was placed on record by both the entities to show that through the senior members of the Bar in the city, any fund is created to help the clerks who are in distress.

The bench said "We are sure that if the Karnataka State Bar Council and Advocates' Association Bengaluru make a request to the senior members of the Bar by inviting their attention to the plight of some of the advocates' clerks, contributions will come from senior advocates. The only question is of making an effort in the right direction."

The court has once again asked the Advocates' Association and the Bar Council to respond in a constructive manner. It suggested that "While handing over the funds to the petitioner-Association, the members of the Bar can always impose conditions about the manner in which it should be used with a view to ensure that the clerks who are really in distress get the monetary benefit." The court will hear the matter on June 2.

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